Sunderland are in advanced talks with AZ Alkmaar's US international striker Jozy Altidore, ESPN has been told.

Altidore scored 23 goals last season, generating interest from a number of clubs in England, Germany and Italy, including Lazio.

That interest increased when the 23-year-old scored what proved to be the winner in the KNVB Cup final against PSV Eindhoven, in which AZ triumphed 2-1.

However, Sunderland appear to have stolen a march, with a source close to the Black Cats indicating that they are in advanced discussions with the former Villarreal striker.

That follows confirmation from Altidore that he would entertain a return to the Premier League following a loan spell with Hull City in 2009-10 that saw him score just once in 28 games.

"It is a fantastic league - anyone will tell you that," he told NASN radio. "If you look at everything, the Premier League is probably the biggest league in the world. Everybody knows that, and it would be a pleasure to play in a league like that again.

"I think I was 19 or just turned 20 [when he last played in the Premier League] and I had not played in Europe before that. I have come a long way since then.

"I am almost a different player, and I have learned a lot. So I don't think there is any resemblance to that time if I went back to the league any time soon."